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This type of insulation applies to a house that has a cavity, in effect a gap, between the bricks that make up the outside wall. The insulation, as a result, fills in this gap and it usually consists of pockets of air that make it hard for heat to pass through easily.
What type of wall do I have?
Usually, houses that were built between 1930 and 1995 are likely to fit this criterion, whereas houses built before are more likely to have solid walls only. Cavity walls were originally introduced to combat dampness that may have occurred in the older solid walls. However, the government issued a study showing that cavity wall insulation does not cause dampness.
By and large, many insulation companies can arrange for you to have a free consultation, where they can tell you what type of wall you have and how much insulation you may need, as well as the grants you may be entitled to. The reason you may not have any cavity wall insulation is because houses comply with the building regulations that applied at the time that the property was built. Standards with regards to insulation have steadily increased since the oil crisis in the 1970s forced the government to encourage energy efficiency.
How is it installed?
Cavity wall insulation invariably needs to be done by a qualified installer as they can check that the ventilation of the building will not be affected by the insulation. It involves drilling some small holes, no bigger than the size of a coin, on the outside of the walls. The insulating material, usually made from UF foam, polysterene bead and mineral wool will then be injected through these holes to completely fill the cavity. The holes will then be filled and, hopefully, painted to match the outside wall.
Grants
Cavity wall insulation costs around £100 and approximately £130 including installation. If you visit www.local-insulation.co.uk, you can find out where your local insulator is. Additionally, the Energy Saving Trust can help you find out whether you are eligible for any grants in your area.
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